
Soft lentil dumplings soaked in spiced yogurt
Prep Time
25 min
Cook Time
15 min
Total Time
40 min
Servings
4
12 vadas
Difficulty
Medium
Cost
Budget
$
Soft lentil dumplings soaked in spiced yogurt
Fluffy fried lentil dumplings soaked in water to soften, then drenched in cool, creamy spiced yogurt with tamarind and green chutney. A refreshing chaat.
25m
Prep Time
15m
Cook Time
40m
Total Time
4
Servings
Medium
Difficulty
Budget $
Cost
(Updated )
Dahi vada is chaat at its most soothing—soft, spongy lentil dumplings swimming in cool, creamy yogurt with sweet and spicy chutneys. It is the perfect palate cleanser and a staple at festivals and celebrations.
Test Kitchen Pick
Deep Fry Thermometer
Helpful Tool
Poutine quality depends on stable oil temperature across two fry stages. A simple clip-on thermometer is the easiest way to get crisp fries instead of greasy ones.
This recipe is far more repeatable when your oil temperature stays in range.
For fry-first recipes, temperature control matters more than almost any other upgrade.
Shop deep fry thermometer options for this recipeWhip ground urad dal paste with salt until fluffy; fry spoonfuls in hot oil until golden, about 4 minutes.
Soak fried vadas in warm water for 15-20 minutes until soft; gently squeeze out excess water.
Arrange vadas in a dish and pour whisked, chilled yogurt over them generously.
Drizzle tamarind chutney and green chutney over the top.
Sprinkle with roasted cumin powder, chili powder, and fresh cilantro; refrigerate 30 minutes before serving.
Serve with warm naan bread or basmati rice
Top with fresh cilantro and a squeeze of lime
Pair with a cooling cucumber raita on the side
Arrange on a platter for easy sharing at your next gathering
Moong dal vadas are lighter and easier to digest
Works for a dairy-free version
Test Kitchen Pick
Soy Sauce
Helpful Pantry Staple
This is doing more than adding salt. The right soy sauce gives the recipe a rounder, more savory base than a thin generic bottle.
This pantry choice affects depth more than most seasonings here.
A better soy sauce is one of the easiest pantry upgrades for Asian cooking.
Shop soy sauce for this recipeSoak vadas until they are completely soft—squeeze gently, they should feel spongy, not firm.
Chill the assembled dish for at least 30 minutes so the vadas absorb the yogurt flavors.
Refrigerate assembled dahi vada for up to 1 day. Flavors improve as they sit.
Not applicable—dahi vada is served cold or at room temperature.
Per serving (10mg) · 4 servings
A moderate-calorie serving · based on a 2,000 cal daily diet
Nutritional values are approximate and may vary based on specific ingredients and preparation methods.
Sarah Chen is a professional recipe developer and food editor with over a decade of experience in test kitchens and food media. She trained at the Culinary Institute of America before spending six years developing and testing recipes for national food publications, where she honed her ability to translate restaurant techniques into approachable home cooking. At RecipePool, Sarah leads recipe development, ensuring every dish is tested at least three times for clarity, accuracy, and genuine deliciousness. When she is not in the kitchen, she is browsing farmers markets and collecting vintage cookbooks.
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